Lake FX Summit + Expo 2016

This is the official app companion for the 2016 Lake FX Summit + Expo, the Midwest’s largest FREE convening of artists and creative entrepreneurs, happening this May 13 to 15 in Chicago, IL. Connect with fellow industry creatives, find career resources at the Expo, shop the local artisan Marketplace and enjoy the Music Showcases. If you create, perform or produce…you’re in.

This year’s them “I’m in!” asks attendees to immerse themselves in 100+ conversations, panels and workshops – on topics ranging from making to marketing presented by industry experts working in the culinary, fashion, film and media, music, performing arts, technology and design and visual arts fields. The program also includes a special track for emerging artists and creatives – plus live podcast recordnings, portfolio reviews, pop-up performances, speed-networking, film screenings and more.

This Lake FX Summit program features Conversations with the following industry experts:

· Charles Adler is an entrepreneur, designer and the co-founder of Kickstarter, the world's largest funding platform for creative projects.

· Nick Cave is an American visual artist, dancer and performance artist, best known for his intricately adorned Soundsuits. His work was recently on view in the exhibition “Here Hear” at the Cranbrook Art Museum and has been featured internationally. He is director of graduate fashion at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

· Graham Elliot became the youngest four-star chef to be named in any major U.S. city. In addition to owning several eponymous restaurants, Elliot is also the Culinary Director of Lollapalooza, co-host and judge of FOX’s “Masterchef” for the past six seasons and “Masterchef Jr.” for five seasons.

· Rodney Jerkins is a Grammy Award-winning composer/producer and chairman/CEO of Evolve Music Group and Lifestyle Music Group. He has worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton, Destiny's Child, Lady Gaga, Spice Girls and Britney Spears, and his songs and albums have sold over 160 million records worldwide.

· Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and is a three-time Grammy Award winner. In addition to recording and performing, he hosts a weekly syndicated radio program Legends of Jazz and is artistic director of jazz for the Ravinia Festival.

· Maria Pinto is fashion designer and artist who has dressed some of the world’s most fashionable women, including Michelle Obama, Marcia Gay Harden, Brooke Shields and Oprah Winfrey as well as designed for the Joffrey Ballet, The James Hotel and New York’s Skylark Bar.

· Tanya Saracho writes for television (“How to Get Away With Murder,” “Looking” and “Girls”) and stage (“Our Lady of the Underpass” and “Kita y Fernanda”). She is also a co-founder of Chicago’s critically-acclaimed Teatro Luna.

· Regina Taylor has received a Golden Globe, two Emmy nominations, a NAACP Image Award and a Jeff Award for her film, television and theater work. Television audiences know Taylor for her roles in "I'll Fly Away,” “The Unit,” “Dig,” Masterpiece Theater’s “Cora Unashamed” and the upcoming pilot “Time After Time.” She is also one of The Goodman Theatre's most produced playwrights with numerous credits including the recent "Stop.Reset."

The Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) will be the Lake FX hub, with additional events taking place at the Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State St.) and the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago (230 N. Michigan Ave.).

Lake FX Summit + Expo is organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs with the support of Google, McDonald’s All American, iHeartMedia, WGCI, Kiss FM, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Reader.